Police have charged two men after tracking an allegedly stolen car throughout Melbourne’s south this morning.
Officers spotted the stolen red Hyundai hatchback allegedly driving erratically and speeding near the Nepean Highway in Aspendale about 12.45am.
Uniform officers, along with Operation Trinity units, kept a safe distance and observed the Hyundai travelling at alleged speeds of approximately 120km/h near the South Gippsland Freeway in Dandenong.
The Hyundai was seen running a red light on Webster Street in Dandenong about 1am.
Officers allegedly attempted to intercept the vehicle near Eastlink before the Hyundai refused to pull over and continued to avoid police.
The car was followed at a distance and was seen travelling south on the Nepean Highway from Parkdale to Seaford.
Officers successfully deployed tyre deflation devices on Seaford Road.
The Hyundai, driving on flat tyres, came to a complete stop on Oliphant Way, where the occupants dumped the vehicle and one man attempted to flee the scene in a Ford Ranger parked nearby.
Police swiftly moved in and arrested two men.
A 31-year-old Cranbourne South man was charged with theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving whilst being pursued by police, unlicensed driving and fail to stop on police direction.
A 28-year-old Springvale man as charged with two counts of theft of motor vehicle.
They will both appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on the 23 July.
Investigators believe that the Hyundai was stolen from an address in Cranbourne East and the Ford was stolen from an address in Hampton Park, both in June.
Operation Trinity, which runs every single night until dawn is Victoria Police’s most well-resourced frontline policing operation at present.
There are 70 additional police rostered each night, on top of existing patrols.
This includes frontline officers, Highway Patrol members, the Dog Squad, Public Order Response Team, and Air Wing.
As a result of this intense focus, police have made over 1,400 arrests relating to burglaries and car thefts – with the overwhelming majority of these offenders’ children. A further 2300 night shift arrests have also been made for other criminal offending due to the strong police presence as part of Operation Trinity.
